Why Does a Roof Sometimes Leak Only When the Wind Blows in One Direction?

Roof leaks can actually be very unpredictable. You might notice water dripping into your home during a storm, but the next time rain falls, it stays completely dry. One reason this might happen is wind direction.

Rain does not always fall straight down. In fact, during windy storms, can can be blown horizontally against your roof, siding, flashing, vents, and other areas that are normally protected from direct rainfall. If there is a small gap, loose flashing, or vulnerable area,  anywhere in the exterior of the home, wind-driven rain can seep inside.

Different sides of your roof are exposed to varying amounts of pressure depending on the direction of the wind. So, if your home has a front facing roof-slope, the areas around chimneys and flashing may have more water exposure when the rain is pushed from the front.

Wind can even lift the edges of shingles slightly, creating an opportunity for water to get underneath them. Even if the shingles look intact from the ground, wind-driven rain can sometimes enter beneath roofing materials, eventually dripping inside your home.

This is just one reason, of many, why locating a roof leak might be challenging. The location where water appears inside a house is not necessarily the location where the leak began.

If your roof appears to leak only during certain storms, or when the wind comes from a specific direction, don’t assume the problem has disappeared when the weather clears. A professional roof inspection is the best way to help identify vulnerable areas and determine how water is getting into your home.

Understanding how wind and rain interact with your roof is important, helping homeowners recognize that any leak is still worth investigating. Call us today to set up your free inspection with CR3 American Exteriors.